Owning and driving an electric car has a lot of benefits. It is environmentally friendly and it can even bring down the money you spend on operational cost.
But because your electric car has moving parts, tires, and batteries, you still can’t escape the fact that you may still need towing services for your electric vehicle from time to time despite all it’s benefits.
Reasons Why Your Electric Car Gets Towed
Let’s face it, electric cars are pretty neat but they aren’t perfect nor are they indestructible. Like other vehicles they act up too especially if you don’t maintain them properly. To set things clear, here are a few reasons why your electric car may need a towing service.
- Flat Tire – A flat tire is a common problem for both electric and non-electric vehicles. There is a simple fix and that is to change the tire but electric cars mostly do not have a spare tire. Instead they have some sort of patching kit. Unfortunately, they are not the best solution at all times.
- Battery Problems -The battery of your electric car is its life. Charging it is essential but sometimes, you or the last person to use the car forgets to charge it. Unlike diesel or petrol that you can easily buy from a gas station and bring to refill your stalled vehicle, you cannot charge your electric car in the middle of the road. Another scenario related to your batteries is when they get worn out and need to be replaced.
- Break Problems – Like gas powered vehicles, your car’s brakes should also be maintained because they can be worn out due to use. If you notice the start of brake problems, don’t risk driving the vehicle and end up crashing it. Call a towing company and get your car to the nearest car shop servicing electric vehicles.
Before get your electric car towed…
If you are getting your electric car towed, make sure you call a service provider with a flatbed tow truck. Why? Because flatbed tow trucks carry the whole vehicle and don’t drag them down the road.
Many electric cars don’t have a neutral position which allows the car to move the wheels without affecting the motor. If you have your electric car towed with a hook and chain tow truck, you’ll be damaging the motor and will be risking more damage to your car.
Charge Instead Of Getting Towed
Instead of getting your electric vehicle towed the nearest charging station, you can ask the towing company if they have a charging truck that can charge your vehicle wherever you are. There specifically designed trucks for this purpose but not all offer them.
Charging trucks can only be an alternative to towing your electrical vehicle when the problem is a drained battery. If other problems exist, there is no other way to get your car to the shop than to have it towed by a flatbed tow truck.
Can Towing An Electric Car Really Recharge It?
There have been claims of of electric car owners who were able to recharge their electric cars by having it towed by another vehicle. Although many have claimed to do it, it isn’t advisable because you can break the warranty on your vehicle and it is even illegal to do in some US states.
In order to recharge the electric car with the towing method, the wheels should be touching the ground and a driver should be using the brakes. This triggers recharging through regenerative breaking. Control over using the brake is very important and the driver should not simply step on the breaks because it can trigger the real brakes.
To Wrap Things Up…
No matter what kind of car you own, it is best to be prepared. Although proper care and maintenance of your vehicle can prevent the need of a tow service company, there can still be unforeseen emergencies.
You should always have a contact number of a towing service provider no matter what type of vehicle you are driving. You also have to make sure that the towing company you are trying to contact offers the right kind of tow service for your vehicle.
